Ventilator



G. E. BLACK VENTILATOR Feb. 11, 1941.

Filed May 15, 1959 Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE.

VENTILATOR Application May 13, 1939, serial No. V273,508

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a ventilator and particularly to a roof ventilator of the stationary type.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel, relatively simple and practical ventilator adapted for use on the roof of a building and in which provision is made for opening and closing the air outlet by means of a movable cap member disposed below the outlet of the ventilator whereby the cap member may also be used as a damper for controlling the discharge of` air from the building.

With this object in View, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the ventilator and in the various structures,

arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specication.

In the drawing in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, Fig..1 is a plan View of a, ventilator embodying the present invention, shown partly in cross-section; Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, -and Fig. 3 is a partial sectional plan View of the ventilator shown in Fig. 1.

The present invention contemplates a ventilator of the stationary type in which a movable cap member is arranged to be raised or lowered to cooperate with the walls of an opening provided in the top of a cylindrical casing forming the suction member or suction band of the ventilator to control the ilow of air through the ventilator. The cap member may be employed as a damper for controlling the discharge of air from the building and also to entirely close the Ventilator.

Referring now to the drawing, the present invention is shown as embodied in a ridge ventilator erected upon the roof II) of a building or other structure provided with a ridge opening l2 through which the air is permitted to escape. In general, the present ventilator comprises an outer `cylindrical casing I4 provided with an opening I 6 in the top thereof and a communicating opening I8 in the bottom thereof, the latter opening being defined by a rectangular pipe 20 supported upon the roof in the ridge opening I2 thereof. Thus, the cylindrical casing forms,- in effect, a suction band having two longitudinally extended curved members 22, 24. A movable cap member 26 disposed within and supported below the opening I6 in the cylindrical casing is arranged to be raised or lowered to act as a damper for controlling the discharge of air from the building and in its opened position is disposed below the upper ends of the members 22, 24 of the suction band and cooperates with the same to provide an unrestricted discharge for the air being exhausted from within the building.

The cylindrical structure is joined together by suitable brace members to form a rigid unit of maximum structural strength and of `such construction `as to offer minimun resistance to the natural flow of air from the building. As herein shown, the suction members 22, 24 are joined at their lower ends to the rectangular pipe 2i) and are connected across the top by a series of hoop members 28. Vertical brace' members 35, 32 are connected at their upper ends to the hoop members'28 and at their lower ends are joined to the casing in overlapping relation with a central angular bracemember 34 which is further supported yby being `joined to overhanging lips 35 provided on the pipe 25. An angular cross brace or tie piece 38 extends between the Vertical brace members 3U, y32 and is joined to the brace 34 at its mid-portion.

The movable cap member 25 and the members 22, 24 of the suction band preferably extend lengthwise of the roof and as herein shown,

provision is made for raising and lowering the cap member to close or open the discharge opening I5. The cap member is preferably made in the form of an inverted V to` provide maximum structural strength and is provided with upstanding edges 39, 4I) having lips 42, 44 which are arranged to cooperate with the edges of the opening I6 to provide a weather tight closure when the cap member is moved to its raised position.l Any rain entering the ventilator is deflected by the -cap member onto the roof ofthe building, suitable drainage spaces or openings being providedV between the suction band and the roof. i

The cap member is supported by a series of cross braces 45 each of which is pivotally connected to a pair of crank levers 43, 50. Each crank lever comprises a one-piece bar of U-shape wheny viewed in' plan, see Fig. 3, having two arms 52, 54 and each bar is twisted so that the arms form an inverted V when viewed in the elevation as shown in Fig. 1. The shorter arms 52 of the crank levers 43, 53 are pivoted at 55 to the vertical supporting braces 3B, 32, and the longer arms 54 are pivotally connected to a horizontally extended operating bar 58 which is arranged to be moved in one direction to lower the cap member 25 and conversely to be moved in the opposite direction to raise the cap member. Provision is made for moving the bar 58 and as herein shown,

this movement may be ei'ected manually by means of a chain or cord 59 accessible from within the building. One end of the cord is oonnected to the bar 58 and the cord is then guided over a pulley E59 mounted upon a shaft 62 and the latter is supported between the braces 30, 32. In operation, as shown in Fig. l, when the bar 58 is moved to the right the cap member i8 is pivotally raised to the upper dotted line position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and when the bar is moved to the left the Ycap member is rocked to the lower dotted line position. When the cap memberis in its extreme lowered position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, it is supported upon the cross members 38 which extend between the vertical members 33, 32.

It will be observed that the mechanism for raising and lowering the cap member effects horizontal as well as vertical movement, or in other words, the cap member is rocked from one position to another, 'and as herein shown, the ends 65, 66 of the ventilator are rounded to provide ample space for the operation of the cap member.

From the description thus'far, it Will be observed that as a result of the present construction, the need for auxiliary damper members between the cap member and the suction members is entirely eliminated and that the movable cap member may be raised or lowered to any position `to control the flow of air from the building. The construction of ventilator is simple, durable and is such as to enable the ventilator to be economically manufactured. In addition, the cylindrical shape of the body of the casing and the rounded ends thereof provides a ventilator of attractive appearance.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms Within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A ventilator comprising an elongated casing adapted to be mounted upon a roof and to form the suction band of the ventilator, provided with an inlet at its lower end for communication with the interior of the building, and an outlet at its upper end, a cap member movably mounted within the casing and of a size greater than said inlet and adapted in one position to close said outlet, and means operatively supported by the casing for moving the cap member vertically vinto a position to close the outlet .and also into an open position to provide an air passage from the inlet to the outlet around the cap member.

2. A ventilator comprising an elongated casing adapted to be mounted upon a roof and having curved elongated side walls and-an inlet at its lower end and an outlet at its upper end, a cap member movably mounted within the casing and of va size greater than ,said inlet and adapted in one position to close said outlet, and means operatively supported by the, casing for moving the cap member vertically into a position to close the outlet and also into an open position to provide an air passage from the inlet to the outlet around the cap member.

3. A ventilator comprising an elongated casing adapted to be mounted upon a roof and to form the suction band of the ventilator provided with an inlet at its lower end for communication with the interior of the building, and an outlet at its upper end, a cap member within the casing of a size adapted to close said outlet, and means operatively supported by the casing for supporting the cap member therein in a manner to permit movement of the cap member vertically into a position to close the outlet and also into an open position to provide an air passage from the inlet to the outlet around the cap member, and operating means for raising and lowering said cap member including a member pivoted to the cap member and being pivotally supported by the casing.

4. A ventilator comprising an elongated casing adapted to be mounted upon a roof and to form the suction band of the ventilator, provided with an inlet at its lower end for communication with the interior of the building, and an outlet at its upper end, a cap member within the casing of a size adapted to close said outlet, and means operatively supported by the casing for supporting the cap member therein in a manner to permit movement of the cap member vertically into a position to close the outlet andalso into an open position to provide an air passage from the inlet to the outlet around the cap member, said means comprising a plurality of members pivoted to the cap member at spaced intervals, each member being pivotally supported by the casing, an operating member connected to said plurality of members and adapted upon movement, to effect pivotal movement thereof.

5. A ventilator comprising an elongated casing adapted to be mounted upon a roof and to form the suction band of the ventilator, provided with an inlet at its lower end for communication with the interior of the building, and an outlet at its upper end, a cap member within the casing of a size adapted to close said outlet, and means operatively supported by the casing for supporting the cap member -therein in a manner to per mit movement of the cap member vertically into a position to close the outlet and also into an open position to provide an .air passage from the inlet to the outlet around the cap member, said means comprising a plurality of members pivoted to the cap member at spaced intervals, each member being pivotally supported by the casing and an operating member extending longitudinally of the casing and connected to said plurality of members, said members and operating member being arranged whereby upon movement of the operating member longitudinally of the casing, the cap member is raised or lowered, the ends of said casing being curved vto permit the cap member to be moved in .a curved path while being raised or lowered.

GEORGE E. BLACK. 

